Urban Fantasy

Short impact summary

Stefan Ekman’s *Urban Fantasy* provides a foundational academic treatment of a dynamic literary genre, combining historical and thematic analysis. While early in its citation lifecycle, open access availability and engagement on platforms like Wikipedia signal its growing influence on literary scholarship and cultural studies of modernity and fantasy.

Full narrative

*Urban Fantasy: Exploring Modernity through Magic* by Stefan Ekman, published by Lever Press in 2024, emerges as a timely scholarly work interrogating the intersections between contemporary urban experience and fantastical narratives. The book situates urban fantasy within broader cultural and philosophical discourses, addressing themes of modernity, epistemology, and social visibility through magic and the supernatural. As a humanities monograph, its impact is shaped not only by traditional academic metrics but also by its resonance within cultural and literary studies, as well as its accessibility through open platforms.

Currently, the book has not accrued citations in major scholarly indexes such as OpenAlex, which is not uncommon for recent monographs in humanities disciplines where citation trends unfold over longer time spans compared to sciences. Nevertheless, its visibility is catalyzed by being available openly on Fulcrum and its inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB). This open access status notably aligns with increasing demand for barrier-free scholarly resources, potentially accelerating its uptake in university courses and scholarly discussions. The book’s DOAB listing highlights its role in urban fantasy scholarship, emphasizing its comprehensive analysis of genre development, social commentary, and thematic depth.

The Event Data reflects a notable engagement concentrated on Wikipedia, with 163 events recorded between late 2024 and mid-2025. Such Wikipedia activity indicates that *Urban Fantasy* is contributing to public knowledge formation and cultural discourse beyond academic walls. This is particularly significant given the genre’s popular and academic crossover appeal, where Wikipedia serves as a nexus for readers, educators, and general audiences seeking accessible yet credible overviews. While these metrics do not equate directly to academic citation impact, they illustrate a form of public scholarship engagement important for humanities research impact narratives.

Qualitatively, the book’s thematic framing of urban fantasy through lenses of social invisibility and unseen urban spaces resonates with interdisciplinary interests spanning literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. Its detailed readings of notable authors such as Neil Gaiman and N.K. Jemisin reinforce its critical relevance, catering to both specialist scholars and an informed readership of genre enthusiasts. It is positioned to influence emerging scholarship on how fantasy narratives critically reflect and interrogate the contradictions of modern urban life, particularly in relation to marginalized social groups and spatial imaginaries.

Looking forward, the open access dissemination combined with the book’s broad thematic scope suggests potential for adoption in teaching and research on contemporary literature, urban studies, and cultural theory. The absence of open educational resource (OER) listings as of now may indicate an early phase in its integration into curricula and resource collections, but this could evolve as awareness grows. Similarly, future citations and reviews in academic journals could gradually emerge as the book becomes a reference point in discussions on the socio-cultural implications of urban fantasy.

In sum, *Urban Fantasy* stands as a promising contribution to humanities scholarship that bridges literary analysis with critical cultural inquiry. Its early digital engagement hints at a growing footprint within and outside academy, marking it as a work to watch for scholars interested in the continuing dialogue between magic, modernity, and urban experience in contemporary literature.